The trucking industry has historically been comprised of over the road truck drivers who are men. However, times are changing and trucking jobs for women are on the rise. As a woman considering a job as a trucker now is the prime time for you to get behind the wheel. The industry needs more qualified truck drivers, and women drivers offer a huge advantage in expanding the job pool. Learn more about why we need women truck drivers and how women can find top paying trucking jobs.
One way to overcome the driver shortage is by recruiting women truckers who want to find their place behind the wheel. Historically, women have not turned to trucking as a career due to social and cultural reasons. For instance, it is impossible for a woman to have children and raise kids if she is spending three weeks a month over-the-road. As a result, the trucking industry has consistently hired men, simply because they were the only applicants interested in taking this type of job.
Woman Driving Truck In Kerala
Video – Road Pulse
Yet the numbers of trucking jobs for women are steadily on the rise. The ATA reports that in 2015, 5.8 percent of the truck driver population consisted of women. That figure has increased from 4.6 percent in 2010. The number is increasing, but as you can see there is still plenty of room for growth. As more women take on the role of truck driver, it will reduce the burden of the truck driver shortage.
Part of this increase comes from a change in our culture that can make it easier for women to apply for trucking jobs. It is no longer a cultural norm for a woman to stay at home and take care of the family. Single women, entrepreneurs interested in owner-operator roles, and women with older children are in the perfect position to start a career as a trucker.
Furthermore, there are trucking jobs that don’t require drivers to be gone away for weeks at a time. Trucking jobs for women can include regional dry van routes, as well as port and rail driving jobs. These types of trucking jobs allow drivers to be home every few days, which is well suited for women who have family and social commitments.
